Lake Forest Fails to Control Tobacco

The American Lung Association recently its 2012 State of Tobacco Control report for every city and county in California and the results were shockingly poor.

Lake Forest received failing scores in all categories of the report, and received an F for overall tobacco control. Cities are scored by their protective policies against secondhand smoke and tobacco use. The report reflects poorly upon Lake Forest, and states, “Responsibility for enacting these life- and revenue- saving policies falls to the elected officials in each community.” 

Why Lake Forest Failed

The report cites 10 areas where Lake Forest residents are unprotected against secondhand smoke. Leading the top of the list are outdoor dining areas, business entryways, and apartment and condominium complexes. How many times have you grabbed coffee with a friend, only to be sitting next to someone smoking?  How many days have you entered and exited the office with someone smoking by the door? The Surgeon General warns that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Any amount of contact may put you at risk for cancer, lung disease, and other serious health consequences.

Protection in California Declines

Residents should be worried about recent tobacco indifference. In the past, the state of California led the way in safety measures against secondhand smoke. Today, the state received an F for the lack of funding for tobacco control programs, an F for the lack of smoking cessation services it provides, and a D for its low cigarette tax. Have we forgotten that tobacco use causes the greatest number of preventable deaths in the United States?

Call Upon Your Local Lake Forest Leaders

Action needs to come from within the community. Landlords have the right to make their property smokefree.  69 Californian cities have already enacted ordinances to make outdoor dining areas smokefree.  Let your city council know that you want action.  The American Lung Association writes, “Local ordinances are essential to creating smokefree apartments/condominiums and public spaces, such as bus stops, outdoor public events, to name a few; without them we cannot protect those people who need it most.” 

The fact remains that tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are known to cause cancer.  Businesses, restaurants, and most importantly, Lake Forest city residents need to take charge and ask city councilmembers to enact policies to protect its residents against tobacco smoke exposure.

Interested in signing a smokefree dining petition or learning more about protecting Lake Forest from secondhand smoke?  Contact jmonji@canoc.org.